UNCTAD, through its Debt and Development Finance Branch (DDFB), works on analytical issues technical assistance, primarily in the areas of external and domestic debt.

UNCTAD began working on debt issues during the 1970s. As the debt situation of developing countries has evolved over the following three decades, DDFB has provided up-to-date analysis of the most important developments and emerging issues in international debt, and adapted its technical assistance to the changing needs of developing countries.

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News

The Task Force on Finance Statistics sets methodological standards for statistics on external debt and on public sector debt. It is composed of nine international organizations of which UNCTAD is a member.

​Member States, international organizations and financial institutions recently took part in the first working session of the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee on sovereign debt restructuring processes, organized by UNCTAD in New York.

​The 2013 External Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users (2013 EDS Guide), which elaborates on the global standards for the compilation, measurement, reporting and analytical uses of external debt statistics, has been released by the nine organizations of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Finance Statistics (TFFS) of which UNCTAD is a member.

The UNCTAD Debt Management and Financial Analysis System (DMFAS) Programme has revamped its website. The new DMFAS portal, which contains new and updated features, was launched today at the 9th DMFAS Advisory Group Meeting.​